Gondal: Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) chief Keshubhai Patel’s close aide and party’s candidate from Gondal constituency Gordhan Zadaphia on Thursday made a stunning revelation that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) are behind him not BJP.

The leader further added that few BJP workers are also working secretly and gathering support for the newly floated party.

“They (RSS and VHP) cannot support me openly, they are behind the curtains. The people from the region had written letters to me urging to contest in the assembly poll from the region only,” he said.

He claimed that people from the Muslim dominated constituency Gondal are supporting Keshubhai’s party, saying, “This election is an opportunity for the people of Gujarat. Our party will definitely win from here. People from the region are with us. Our party will work for the people of Gujarat.”

There are 35,000 Muslim voters in the constituency. In previous election, NCP’s Chandubhai Vaghasia had won from this seat.

“Now the fight is between 3.5 years of Keshubhai’s and 11 years of Modi’s rule. I am here to bring Gondal’s dark days to an end,” he added.

A total of 1,666 candidates are in the fray for 182-member Gujarat Legislative Assembly polls. While the ruling BJP has fielded candidates on all the 182 Assembly seates, the Opposition Congress has given tickets to 181 candidates in alliance with the NCP.

A total of 87 constituencies spreading over 15 districts from Saurashtra and south regions of the state are going to poll on December 13. Political fate of 846 candidates including 46 women will be decided on Thursday.

The second phase will be held on December 17. Counting of votes is slated for December 20.